NHK poll: Over 70% expect no change in Japan-China ties

The latest opinion poll conducted by NHK shows most Japanese do not expect Japan-China relations to change. The two countries recently agreed to promote closer communications.

NHK conducted the telephone survey for three days beginning Friday. It called more than 2,500 people and received responses from over 1,200, or 48 percent.

Asked if they think Japan-China ties will improve or worsen, 72 percent of the respondents said they expected no change, 10 percent said relations will improve and 8 percent said they will worsen.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa met Premier Li Qiang and other senior Chinese officials last week. They agreed to maintain close bilateral communications at all levels.

The survey also asked respondents how they assess Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's surprise visit to Ukraine last month. Kishida met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and offered Japan's support in repelling Russia's invasion. He pledged 30 million dollars to help Ukraine acquire non-lethal equipment.

Twelve percent of the respondents said they very much approve of the move, 46 percent said they somewhat approve and 25 percent said they somewhat do not approve. Nine percent said they do not approve of the move at all.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230411_11/